Despite the daunting backdrop of rising antisemitism, Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks CBE is encouraging Jewish community members not to hide away and to show their resilience and pride when attending the annual event on Sunday.
“The theme for Mitzvah Day this year is Repair the World and never has that been more apt. At a basic level, our charities need us. They rely on this annual day of giving to help them with collections, food drives, visits or gifts,” she told the JC.
The context for this year’s Mitzvah Day is characterised by an unprecedented need to show up for the community, Marks said, referring to it as a “proudly in-your-face Jewish” Mitzvah Day.
While Mitzvah Day CEO Stuart Diamond said there had been “a slight dip in the number of interfaith projects”, Marks stressed the need “to reach out to other faith communities through Mitzvah Day”.
She said: “True, some communities may choose not to take part this year — which is tragic — but we have neighbours and friends who are looking for ways to engage and who are reaching out to see how they can help.”
Marks’ sentiments were echoed by Diamond, who said: “In this time of division, pain, anger and sadness, we invite Jewish and non-Jewish people to do what we all do best: to repair our fractured and grieving world.
“The Mitzvah Day team has returned to our core values — our resolute belief that through social action and by working together, we can make the world a better place.” In keeping with the interfaith values of Mitzvah Day, Marks urged the Jewish community to “not forget that while antisemitism is rocketing, so is Islamophobia and there is even increased hatred of Hindus”.
This week, Mitzvah Day is volunteering with a church in Tottenham, helping it with its regular food bank, as well as cooking meals in a synagogue with local Hindu and Muslim women, which will be donated to church-run food banks.
The safety of participating organisations and individuals is paramount, according to Marks, and Mitzvah Day has involved CST in its efforts to ensure the security of all involved.
Marks said: “It is essential to be safe — CST guidance is on the Mitzvah Day website — but let’s reach out in human kindness, something we do so well and something that makes us feel better. Like other faith communities, we are at our best when we are giving back. To care for our neighbours is 101 Faith.”
Mitvah Day organisers are also encouraging the community to attend the annual AJEX remembrance parade and ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall at 1.45. No tickets are required to be a spectator from outside the secure area. “Remembrance is a mitzvah,” said Marks.
